Beneath the Varnish - Episode 01: Ecce Homo, The Lost Caravaggio

In the inaugural episode of Beneath the Varnish, host and collector Scott Devon invites listeners into one of the most compelling stories in recent art history - the discovery of a possible “Lost Caravaggio.” With the stakes measured not only in millions of dollars but in legacy, scholarship, and cultural memory, this episode peels back the layers of connoisseurship, attribution, and the art market’s inner workings. At the center of the conversation is The Sleeper documentary, a film that captures the tension, doubt, and exhilaration surrounding a painting that may redefine what we know about Caravaggio’s late career. Joining Scott are two distinguished voices uniquely positioned to explore the painting’s significance. Jorge Coll, owner of Colnaghi - the oldest continuously operating gallery in the world - offers a rare glimpse into how masterpieces are vetted, handled, and ultimately presented to the world. Alongside him is Professor David M. Stone, renowned art historian, author, and leading authority on Baroque art and Caravaggio. Together, they examine the evidence, the controversies, and the historical context that frame the rediscovery. In this opening episode, Beneath the Varnish sets the tone for a podcast where scholarship meets the present moment—where collectors, curators, and scholars converge to illuminate the stories hidden beneath the surface of great art.